Burglary Suspect Remains At Large In Old Saybrook

OLD SAYBROOK — A man who was interrupted trying to break into a home Wednesday night and fled, setting off a search in which some residents were told to stay in their homes, was still at large Thursday morning, police said.

Police said they had not found the suspect after an initial search of the area around an accident scene on School House Road, where the suspect may have crashed a stolen vehicle. The search continued into "the early morning hours" but was unsuccessful, according to police.

The incident began about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, when a resident on Mill Rock Road East arrived home to find a suspect exiting his home, police said. The suspect fled the area in a vehicle and the homeowner called 911.

Shortly after that, a car accident was reported on Schoolhouse Road. Police said the car was on its side and the operator had fled on foot. A description of the driver and the vehicle matched the description given by the homeowner.

The vehicle also matched the description of a car stolen from New London earlier in the day, police said.

A resident on Dibble Road later reported seeing the suspect trying to gain entry to his garage, police said.

Residents within 1.5 miles of the town park on School House Road were asked to stay inside and lock their doors, and people were prevented from driving into the area. Residents initially kept from entering were allowed to return to their homes late Wednsday night. Police suggested that they keep their doors and their cars locked.

The suspect, described as 5-foot-7, wearing a white tank top and "leathery looking" jeans, and with a cut on his left elbow, was in the process of breaking into a home when the residents came home and interrupted him, police said.

The fire department said in a Facebook post that several police departments, along with K-9 teams, were searching for a suspect in the woods near the town park.

The Old Saybrook Police Department was assisted by state police and the Clinton Police Department.

Police said Thursday morning that the investigation is ongoing, and asked anyone with information on the suspect to contact detectives at 860-395-3142.